ROCHESTER, N.Y. (nazathletics.com) - Nazareth Women's Volleyball (2-21, 2-6) defeated SUNY Poly (6-15, 0-8), 3-2, Friday evening inside Kidera Gymnasium. After dropping the first set, the Golden Flyers came back to claim the second, fourth and fifth frames to earn their second Empire 8 win of the season. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Nazareth started strong behind early kills from Zipporah Sparkman and Leah Fusilli to take a 5-2 lead, but SUNY Poly used a mid-set run to go up 20-14. The Golden Flyers fought back within two, but a late service error sealed the 25-22 set for the Wildcats. 
• Nazareth responded in dominant fashion, jumping ahead 10-4 after a 9-1 stretch fueled by multiple kills from Fusilli and Alana Lucey. Despite a brief SUNY Poly push late, Nazareth closed it out 25-19 to even the match at one set apiece.
• SUNY Poly capitalized on early Nazareth attack errors to build a 9-3 advantage. The Golden Flyers pulled within two at 18-16, thanks to kills from Sparkman and Lucey, but back-to-back service aces down the stretch helped SUNY Poly take the third set 25-20.
• Nazareth regained momentum, using balanced offense from Lucey and Fusilli to open the fourth set with a 15-10 lead. The Golden Flyers maintained control throughout, finishing the set 25-20 to force a decisive fifth.
• Nazareth came out firing with a 6-2 start behind Sparkman and Fusilli. SUNY Poly came back to tie it at 14 apiece until Nazareth closed on a 2-0 run capped by Sparkman's kills to win the match 16-14 and secure the 3-2 victory.

MATCH NOTES

• The Golden Flyers out-blocked the Wildcats 13-2, matching the team's season-high set at SUNY Brockport, Oct. 4. 
• Leah Fusilli notched her third double-double of the year with 15 kills and a season-high 19 digs in the win. She added three service aces and a block for a team-best 19 points on the evening. 
• Alana Lucey recorded a career-high 15 kills at a .464 clip over SUNY Poly, her sixth game hitting .300 or better this fall. The sophomore tacked on five blocks for 18 points against the Wildcats.
• Hailey Trank registered her third double-double of the year with a career-best 28 assists and 16 digs vs. SUNY Poly, along with a team-high three service aces. 
• Madeline Saunders posted her second double-double of the season with 15 assists and 13 digs this evening, her sixth performance with double-digit assists this fall. 
• Zipporah Sparkman tallied a career-best 13 kills at an impressive .522 clip. The senior middle blocker matched her season-high with six blocks over SUNY Poly
• Lorianna Mattutat continued Nazareth's dominance at the net with six blocks, a career-high mark for the junior. 

UP NEXT 
Nazareth continues its homestand against Utica tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 25. First serve is slated for 4 p.m. inside Kidera Gymnasium and on Empire 8 Network. 

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